Early Intubation in Trauma Patients Is Safe and Effective

Acute airway management is integral to the successful management of trauma patients, but little has been reported about its indications, methods, and success rates. Researchers retrospectively reviewed medical records and trauma registry data at a single level I trauma center from 2001 to 2006 for 1000 consecutive trauma patients (10% of all trauma patients) who underwent early (within 2 hours) intubation.

Intubation was initially attempted (maximum of twice) by emergency medicine residents, with oversight or assistance, if needed, from EM attending physicians, trauma surgeons, or, rarely, anesthesiologists. An intubation attempt was defined as a single pass of a laryngoscope blade or an endotracheal tube. The center’s standard protocol for …